Australian High Commissioner to the Cook Islands Dr Christopher Watkins and his partner Dr Penelope Witt have returned to Rarotonga after three months.

Watkins and Witt travelled to Tasmania for the birth of their first child late last year.

Watkins said it was emotional to step off the plane in Rarotonga last Saturday and introduce his daughter to the Cook Islands.

He also said it was hard leaving her at home but exciting to be back at work.

“Our daughter Tosca was born on 28 October and is an absolute blessing. It was very emotional to step off the plane in Rarotonga on Saturday and introduce her to her first home. She is an island girl, born in Tasmania, with her first home in Rarotonga.

“It’s (been) hard to leave her at home in the morning, but it is exciting to get back to work.”

Following the recent border reopening with New Zealand, Watkins said 2022 will be a “big year” for Australia and Cook Islands relations.

He said he wants direct flights between both countries to reopen “as soon as it was safe” and that he has been impressed with the government’s preparations for reopening.

However, Watkins said that he understands a reopening could be “nerve-wracking”.

“We have been impressed with the government’s preparations for reopening. Cook Islanders have led the region in embracing vaccinations. The testing, the tracing, and the training are all in place.

“Australia has been working with SPC to help Te Marae Ora prepare and make sure it has the equipment it needs. Just as we flew in GeneXpert testing kits when the pandemic began, we are ready to fly in equipment to help with reopening in the months to come.

“We want to reopen the direct flights between our countries as soon as it is safe to do so. 28,000 Australian tourists visited in 2019, and tens of thousands of Kukis (Cozzies) live in Australia. It will be wonderful to see families reconnected.

“Tasmania opened to the rest of Australia in December. Like (the) Cook Islands, it had been very successful in keeping Covid out, but needed tourism restored and families reunited. Western Australia will take the same step next month.

“The good news is that the vaccines have proven very effective at keeping people out of hospital – even with the Omicron variant. Australia has provided over 17 million vaccines (doses) to countries like Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and elsewhere for just that reason.

“We want the whole Pacific to be as well prepared as (the) Cook Islands so that we can reconnect safely and rebuild the regional economy.”

Watkins said there are all sorts of reasons for people to reconnect including the tragic events in Tonga last week that underlined the importance of being able to help in a crisis.

The country suffered a large volcanic eruption which caused an unprecedented disaster sparking tsunami waves reaching up to 15 metres high.  

Australia has deployed one of its largest naval ships, the HMAS Adelaide and the RAAF Poseidon to assist with vital supplies.

Watkins said the tsunami has focused his mind on how Australia could work with New Zealand to respond to a similar event should it happen in the Cook Islands.

He said the most effective route would be to build local capacity.

“In April, the Te Kukupa II patrol boat will be handed over to (the) Cook Islands. It is a gift from Australia to help (the) Cook Islands secure its vast economic zone and support Cook Islanders in a crisis.

“The new boat will be bigger, more advanced, and quicker but it will have a lot to live up to.

“The new Patrol Boat will need infrastructure to allow it to patrol the huge area they need to cover, and Australia is committed to helping build what’s needed.”